Conservative Blogger picks Edwards as Democratic Nominee

[Catchawave]

http://race42008.com/

End of Year Prediction: Edwards will be Democratic Nominee
With just hours to go until 2007 is ushered in here in the east, I am prepared to put my credibility on the line as a political seer and make the following prediction more than a year out from the Iowa caucuses. I hereby predict that, at the end of the day, former North Carolina senator and former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards will be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2008.

Why Edwards?

1) Iowa. Over the last year, we’ve seen several polls of likely Iowa caucus-goers placing Edwards either on top or very close to victory in the state that will hold the nation’s first 2008 contest. His strength there, despite losing in the national polls to Hillary, gives us some indication of what Democrats will do when actually exposed to the candidates and their campaigns on the ground. Moreover, it tells us that Edwards is in a very good position to come out of the gate with a win in Iowa.

***


4) The Anti-Hillary. It doesn’t take much time surfing the left side of the blogosphere to determine that there’s little love lost between Hillary and grassroots liberals. The Left would prefer that Hillary not be the nominee, and strategic types within the Democratic establishment also fear that Nominee Hillary, with her inability to connect with voters, her polarizing manner, the baggage of dynasty, and her status as a northeastern liberal will ensure a third successive GOP victory in the general. Edwards, with his southern pedigree and style will be seen as someone who can give Republicans a run for their money in the middle of the country.

5) The midterms. Edwards is the candidate who most resembles the type of Democrat who won red territory in 2006: fiscally populist, isolationist, and socially liberal but not a coastal elite type. If Democrats want to continue their successes in the border states and along the Ohio River, Edwards becomes a far smarter pick than Hillary.

It is for these reasons that I believe John Edwards will be the 2008 Democratic nominee. Our challenge, then, is to ensure that the candidate we select can beat him.

[k_jerome]

1. his views on national security will appeal to both sides...

more so than many other candidates. acknowledging the threat of radical violent islam is important to many Americans.

[Catchawave]

15. His message appeals to those of us

who crave a type a patriotism beyond a magnetic ribbon on our cars :) Remember when America bonded after 9-11 ? I want to feel like that again!

[benny05]

2. I've thought for some time

The Re-thugs would fear him more.

[roseBudd]

11. I think they fear him more than Hillary or Obama but I think they would quake in their

boots if it was Wes Clark. Clark is Jim Webb Version 2.0. And we already saw a Web beats a macaca style chicken hawk anyday.

McCain isn't a chickenhawk, but in comparison he's just a flyer who happened to became a POW for 5 years. Sympathy, props, but that doesn't qualify him as a leader.

[hijinx87]

3. he's from a southern state

that could flip a couple, and a couple is all we need.

[spooky3]

7. Northern VA will support any good Dem, and if Edwards

spent the necessary time in the rest of the state, he would win it as well. This is a "I want to shake your hand before I decide whether to give you my vote" kind of a state.

[hijinx87]

8. I have read a lot about NOVA becoming more and more progressive

I wasn't sure I believed it until webb beat macaca boy. ;)

[spooky3]

9. Arl. & Alex. have always been blue; Fairfax turned blue

several gubernatorial elections ago. Loudoun, PW and the others are getting more purple every day.

Webb needed support from other parts of the state to eject Felix "Macaca" Jr. and other candidates will also. There are blue pockets (some parts of southwestern VA, Richmond proper, some parts of Tidewater, Charlottesville (home of U VA) and other communities, and of course scattered Dems everywhere even if they are outnumbered in their immediate vicinities!

[Catchawave]

19. Thank you NOVA for Jim Webb

Love, from Hampton Roads/Tidewater, We're #2 but we try harder :hi:

[benny05]

12. Good to know Spooky

I think western states are like that as well.

You must be proud that your state is trending blue...:dem:

[spooky3]

18. yes, our quality of life is improving :-)!

:hi:

[liberalpragmatist]

4. Edwards is far from an isolationist

He's for a withdrawal in Iraq, which is NOT the same thing. He has repeatedly said that the world needs moral American leadership, lest there be a power vacuum, and wants the U.S. muscle behind humanitarian efforts in Darfur and Uganda, for example.

Also, on trade, Edwards has said he will be stricter with trade agreements, but he hasn't embraced the xenophobic rhetoric of the '88 Gephardt campaign. He has said he is pro-trade, and he rejects the protectionist label.

[PDittie]

5. They cannot demonize him

consequently, they cannot defeat him using their usual destruction strategy.

I am coming to believe he is our strongest chance to re-take the White House.

[w4rma]

6. Good. That works for me. (nt)

[MsUnderstood]

10. I like edwards . . .

And I recall during the VP debate the only way to bring him down was to accuse him of name calling for saying cheney's daughter was a LESBIAN.

[Catchawave]

16. Well they sure couldn't bash him for the IWR

:evilgrin:

[Ninja Jordan]

13. Edwards groundwork in IA, NH, NV, SC will be key.

He has an advantage in that he's not a sitting senator (or office holder); he doesn't have to report to Washington for votes. He can constantly campaign for two years.

[thethinker]

14. I think he is right

There are many soccer moms and ditto heads that have had it with the republican party. The middle class is suffering with the price of oil, price of groceries, outsourced jobs, etc. They may be dumb but they aren't completely stupid. We saw what happened in the last election. Edwards has the message that can win over these voters. He speaks to the middle class. The whole country could get behind someone like Edwards. He is a breath of fresh air after 8 years of W. As long as he campaigns on the idea of getting out of Iraq, he can win.

Of all the possible candidates, we have the best shot of winning with Edwards in my humble opinion. I don't think either Hillary or Barack can carry the country. They might win the Democratic primaries, but I don't think they can win the general election.

[Catchawave]

17. I'm a moderate/centrist

whatever they're calling the middle these days, and I agree with you :) I just want some hands on inspiration now, not the doom and gloom and fear and smear of the Bush years.

[citizen snips]

20. Edwards an Isolationist?

Edwards believes in protectionism but not isolationism.

[UDenver20]

21. Sadly...

We're not that smart.

We'll pick the stupidest possible candidate, and then we'll wonder why we can't win. Then we'll blame it on Rupert Murdoch, then on voting machines, then on the Green Party.

[Catchawave]

22. Are you thinking crossover appeal ?

That's why I always find that conservative websites are the key to a winning Team in '08. This website spoke volumes to me :D